Weapon seller in the world of magic

”Eh? Why?” Even Shang Jiao was surprised at Mark’s refusal to invite their parents.

To that, Mark calmly replied, ”They abandoned me when I was small. The ones who raised me, my foster parents, would be wronged if I allowed that authority to return to people who were not there. Moreover, I don’t want to give another woman a blessing Song Yue herself never received.”

Shang Jiao opened her mouth, ready to protest, but Mark placed a hand on her head, brushing her hair aside with that familiar, affectionate gesture that always stopped her words. ”Don’t worry,” he said. ”I don’t hate them anymore. I forgave them long ago. I’ve already acknowledged them as my parents. It is just that, regardless of what they call me, I’m still Lu Zhen. And Lu Zhen’s consciousness wouldn’t allow them to do things for me as what parents should do, because Lu Zhen’s parents are dead. That won’t change. And since I accepted before the birth of my children... perhaps, they can extend their authority of being grandparents for their events... but not mine...”

Shang Jiao’s throat tightened. She could only step forward and wrap her arms around him. Mark closed his eyes and hugged her back quietly.

*

That night, Mark lay in bed staring at the ceiling. No matter how many times he closed his eyes, his thoughts drifted toward Song Yue’s gentle smile, toward the small hands of his children tugging at his sleeves, toward laughter echoing across familiar halls. The longing scraped at him quietly.

Maybe it’s because he brought up his family with Yuxuan. He now wanted to go home, hold them, and hear their voices. But he could not forget the danger. As long as he can’t sort out peace within the clan, his family will face danger from these cunning elders.

The next morning, inside the imperial council hall of the Imperial Palace, Heavenly Ocean Empire;

The Emperor and his ministers sat around a wide jade table discussing the war with the Ravagers and the upcoming Grand Expedition. The atmosphere was tense, filled with maps and markers, strategies and grim predictions.

The doors slid open, and a soldier kneeled, interrupting their discussion. ”Your Majesty, a messenger from Azure Frost Dominion requests an audience.”

The Emperor raised an eyebrow. He expected one, after all. Before he spoke, the Fifth Prince leaned forward with interest. ”Father, I heard Lan Zhen plans to marry in a week’s time. It may be an invitation.”

”Let him in,” the Emperor ordered.

Footsteps echoed through the hall, calm, firm, unhurried. Frost stepped inside with the quiet grace of a ruler rather than a messenger. His energy was suppressed so completely that the entire room felt only a faint breeze passing through. Ministers dismissed him in their minds as another 11-circle envoy...

But the Emperor’s eyes sharpened like blades.

The moment Frost crossed the threshold, the Emperor felt the truth beneath the disguise. The weight of that suppressed aura rippled faintly, like lightning threatening to break through storm clouds.

A divine beast of third-stage transcendent... hidden inside the Lan Clan? Where did this one come from? Wait a second... is that... Blizzard Pegasus? No, not her... is it one of her children? He thought.

He leaned back on his throne and calmly gazed at the incoming messenger.

The Emperor then said slowly as if he was unaware, ”I did not know that Azure Frost Dominion possessed two third-stage transcenants. And one of them comes as a mere messenger.”

His words slid across the hall as a blade dipped in ice.

The ministers stiffened.

The Fifth Prince blinked in confusion.

Frost simply straightened, spread his faint icy aura through the air, no longer hiding his aura, and replied without bowing his head, ”I suppose it is impossible to fool the Emperor after all.”

And then he released his realm.

The suppressed pressure rose like a silent avalanche, heavy, ancient, and suffocating.

Ministers staggered where they stood, a few instinctively reaching for defensive talismans. The Supreme Commander of the empire’s armies instantly pressed his hand to the hilt of his weapon, ready to strike. Only the Emperor remained unmoving, his fingers lightly gripping the armrest of the throne.

”Enough,” the Emperor commanded with a single gesture.

At once, the commanders and generals froze. His frown deepened, but his voice remained calm. ”There is no one in this world foolish enough to walk into my palace and attempt an assassination. Lower your weapons.”

Frost, despite having revealed the weight of a third-stage transcendent, looked completely relaxed. The Emperor studied him with narrowed eyes before speaking again, this time with genuine curiosity.

”I sense the bloodline of the Blizzard Pegasus in you,” he said while continuing to maintain ignorance of Frost’s true identity. ”And also... You seemed to be far older than I am. Tell me, are you one of the Lan Clan’s hidden ancestors?”

Frost’s expression didn’t change. His tone was polite, but absolutely unmoved. ”At this moment, Your Majesty, I am nothing more than a messenger. My identity is irrelevant. Only my master’s words matter.”

”Your master?” The Emperor lifted an eyebrow. A Blizzard Pegasus bowed to someone? Did Azure Frost Dominion get the helping hand of a fellow 4-stage transcendant or something? He wondered.

Frost nodded and continued in one breath, his voice carrying through the hall like winter wind moving across frozen plains.

”My master, known to your palace as Lan Zhen, will marry a daughter of the Lan Clan in eight days’ time. He deemed it proper to send me personally as a sign of respect.”

A eunuch approached carefully, and Frost handed the invitation scroll into his hands.

”The invitation is for the Imperial Family of Heavenly Ocean Empire,” Frost said, ”with a specially extended one for Lord Hei Zhenyu.”

The name caused a visible ripple in the room. Even the Emperor’s fingers tightened by a fraction. No one dares to invite Lord Hei like this...

Frost continued calmly, never missing a beat.

”My master adds this: Azure Frost Dominion seeks only independent governance. It does not wish to be bullied at the whim of the imperial palace. The dominion has no desire to become your enemy. Instead, we extend the intention of a peace treaty.”

His voice grew firmer, a shade colder.

”If His Majesty wishes for friendly relations, then the Emperor may send an envoy who has full authority to negotiate the terms of this treaty. Not a powerless messenger or a puppet. A representative who has enough weight in his identity.”

Several high-ranking nobles stiffened in shock at the directness.

Frost’s eyes swept through the court, sharp and unblinking. ”Failure to send such an envoy,” he continued, ”will be taken as the imperial palace having no intention of peace.”

For a long moment, the Emperor said nothing. Frost allowed the silence to settle before speaking one last time.

”If His Majesty questions my master’s capabilities, whether he could be arrogant or not...” he said clearly, ”I shall ask His Majesty to make enquiries about the recent war concluded Sky Sect and the Golden Demon Cat Empire, in the immortal plane.”

Murmurs broke out instantly. The Emperor’s gaze hardened.

Frost bowed slightly, not submissively, but in acknowledgment, and concluded: ”My master does not enjoy boasting, but he will brag if it prevents unnecessary conflict born from ignorance. His words are not threats. They are simply the truth.”

The tension in the imperial hall thickened like frozen fog.

The Emperor leaned back slowly, golden robes rustling. ”Well then,” he said quietly, ”it seems this Lan Zhen wishes to speak to the empire as an equal.”

His smile did not reach his eyes.

But Frost didn’t care about the comment. He simply said, ”The choice of words, from the beginning to the end, is fully my master’s. Please take them exactly as he intended. If that is all, Your Majesty, I will now return to my master’s side.”

He turned without hesitation, steps echoing across the polished floor. His aura had been withdrawn, but every noble present still felt the lingering pressure of this messenger. He took three steps before the Emperor’s voice cut sharply through the hall.

”Wait.”

Frost stopped. A slow turn, expression neutral. ”Yes, Your Majesty?”

”I have a message for your master.”

Frost shook his head once. ”I am the messenger of my master, not a servant of the Heavenly Ocean Empire. I hold no obligation to deliver the Emperor’s reply. If Your Majesty wishes to respond, Your Majesty may send his own messenger.”

For the first time, irritation flickered in the Emperor’s eyes. He exhaled through his nose and said, ”My message is for Lu Zhen, not for ’Lan Zhen’, the dominion’s ruler. Will you still refuse to hear it?”

Frost’s gaze sharpened, not with disrespect, but with an elder’s unwavering discipline. ”Under no circumstance,” he said slowly, ”shall I carry any message related to the one I delivered earlier. That matter is between the dominion and the palace.”

A muscle in the Emperor’s cheek twitched. Then he leaned forward on the throne, voice lowering.

”Tell your master, Lu Zhen, that out of respect for Lord Hei, I will consider the deal he proposed through him. My envoy will discuss the details in person.”

Frost gave the smallest nod, neither deferential nor rude. ”Understood.”

He turned again, but he only managed two steps before the Emperor spoke once more.

”Wait.”

Frost paused. ”Yes?”

The Emperor’s gaze lingered on him for several seconds. No words followed, only silence, and a stare filled with contemplation. Finally, he waved his hand.

”Nothing. You may leave.”

This time, Frost walked out without stopping.

The great doors closed behind him.